Peyton Manning’s 10-play, 80-yard comeback drive at Kansas City was something for the ages. It tempered the “We Want Osweiler” movement — at least for now — and reminded us all why Manning is Manning. But while his fourth-quarter heroics were simultaneously impressive and questionable — “What is the Broncos’ offense?” remains unanswered, despite their 2-0 record — it also masked many other highlights (and lowlights) of the 2015 Broncos.
Let’s review:
1. The improvement of the defense, from Jack Del Rio’s 4-3 to Wade Phillips’ 3-4, is impressive moreso when you consider that the first team is really the same group of guys, minus some of its top players from 2014 (Terrance Knighton, Rahim Moore, Derek Wolfe for now). Malik Jackson, one of their most efficient defenders is back on the line. So are pass rushers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. And inside linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan. And cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris. And safety T.J. Ward.
But the numbers are clearly different. The most impressive to me: a league-high seven takeaways, the most for the Broncos through two games since 1996. Three of those were in the red zone, equaling their total last season.
2. Manning has been sacked seven times in two weeks (in only four quarters, actually). He was sacked 17 times total last season. , Manning is on pace to be sacked 56 times this season. That will hurt.
3. The Broncos are averaging just 2.8 rushing yards per attempt this season to rank 28th in the league. Last year, in Adam Gase’s Manning-friendly offense, they averaged 4.0 yards per attempt to rank 15th in the league.
“It comes as a team, regardless of whether you’re under center or in the gun,” coach Gary Kubiak said Monday. “You’ve got to be physical running the football. I think it’s pretty obvious when you look around the National Football League. Running the ball out, to be honest, is a challenge at times. If that’s something you’re doing best, you’ve got to find a way to run it that way. Being physical is a state of mind. It’s an identity. It’s a commitment. It’s not something you talk about and go do. It’s something you work at all the time.”
4. Talib is arguably the best cornerback in the game right now. (I don’t know how you could argue otherwise, but I’m trying to play fair here.) Two game-changing interceptions in as many games. Three tackles. Only 33.3 percentage of receptions completed in coverage. Zero touchdowns allowed.
5. We know with the Broncos’ offense:
Peyton, Eli, Romo, Luck anybody else? How is Rob Lowe’s clavicle right now? What about his QBR?
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops)
CHEW ON THIS
• .
Reminder to direct your fantasy complaints tonight to the correct Brandon Marshall.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)
• Broncos fullback James Casey turns 31 today. You’ve seen his football skills. Troy Renck has told you about . So now, let’s talk about .
• The Broncos . I bring it up primarily because I like saying Megatron in a deep, terrifying voice, but also because it gives me an excuse to post his Georgia Tech .
If you’ll recall, Demaryius Thomas was also on that team, as a redshirt freshman. As was . And Broncos defensive tackle Vance Walker. Now THAT was a college roster.
• Here’s NFL reporter Troy Renck with the .
• Champ Bailey said his former Broncos teammate Jay Cutler ” ” during his time in Denver.
• Tickets to the at Coors Field will .
WATCH THIS
you need to know Pierre Jackson, a 76ers rookie who has no connection to Colorado but … did you click on the link?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Harald Hasselbach, whose name will always remind me of , turns 48 today. The former defensive end won two Super Bowl rings with the Broncos and is a .
And lastly, Broncos Ring of Famer and star of their first game in history, Gene Mingo, turns 77. .
Nicki Jhabvala: njhabvala@denverpost.com or @NickiJhabvala
Online producer Joe Nguyen contributed to this story.
